Electric sign.



110.889 145. PATBNTED MAY 2 19 G. G. NIENTIMP.. 6 Q8 ELECTRIC SIGN. APPLICATION FILED MR. 16; 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

am m. .s w www n 0 o 0 o cw. O G O o I www PATENTED MAY 26, 1908.

G. C. NIENTIMP.

ELECTRIC SIGN.

APPLIGATION FILED 11.111,16. 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2A l ations/w13 To all'fwhomvt may. concern? following is aspeciiication.

, IEvIrEns'rArEs PATENT oEEIoE.

lGEORGE o. NIE-NUTIMP, or ERIE', PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR To JEWEL ELECTRIC SIGN r i COMPANY, oEEEIE, PENNSYLVANIA.'

ELECTRIC SIGN.`-

Be it knownrthat I, GEORGE a citizen of the'United States, residing at Erie, in the county of Erieand State of Penn- Sylvania, have invented'lew `and useful Improvements in ElectricfSig'nsLnf which the f l '-I The inventionrelates to`anl infI/,provement in sig-ns and particularly signs arranged for illumination to effectively display the sign fdata. i`

.The main object of the'present invention is the production of a sign constructed and arranged to Insure perfect andceflective illumination at a' comparatively little expense,

in 'which 'the' illuminating mediunris so di-` rooted as to be y'entirely utilized for the sign data illumination, and. in which the4 sign characters are so constructed as to present kabrilliant and artistic .effect under the illuininating medium.

Thefdetailed lstructure of the parts of the `,sign ofthe present invention'will be described in the following Specification,I reference being accompanying drawhad'lparticularl'y tothe ings, in which 1T A Figure 1.is a view inL elevation yof a sign constructed in accordance with my inven- V so , ofthe-same, on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

ltion. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of thejsame, the reflector being shownin elevation. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical secrion 1g. 4 is an enlarged elevation of a portion of the sign character showing one of the jewel lenses. Fig. 5 is a transverse section on line 5-5 of 4. Fig.v Gis a view in elevation, partly in section of a portion ofa sign constructed infaccordance with the present invention,

and illustrating aslightly modified arrangefline,l including side walls 2, end walls 3 top 4 ment' of the sign characters, Fig. 7 is a plane of one 'of the jewel holders. perspectiye view of one of the jewel holders, showingfthe jewel therein.- J Referring particularly to the drawings, .wherein is illustrated'the preferred embodiment of details of the present invention, my improvdfsign comprises a casing 1, which in the preferred `:form is of rectangular outand bottom 5. The casing maybe of any preferred size' and is constructed of woodlor e similar inexpensive material.

. The sign characters 6 are either suitably outlined on one wall of ,the'casing, as one `of the side walls 2, or lmay be constructed of specificaties ef Lettere Patent.

Application filed March 16, 1907. Serial'NQ. 362,673.

C.NIEN.TIMP,

Fig. Sis a.

Patented nay- 26, 190s.

separate material and secured in appropriately formed'openings in the side walls.l

Each sign character carries a series of bullseyes or jewel lenses, arranged in such spaced relation relative to each other as to outline a acter on which they are secured. These lensesy are preferablyi cut 1n jewel form,

\lens form and of either white or colored glass. It has been heretofore, proposed to outline 'sign characters by'the use of similarlenses, though in such. constructions with whiclfl to they character as to interfere in some degree at least with tlie,free passage .of light therethrough.-

ent invention is to obviate the disadvantages so secure the jewels in place as to permit al1 uninterrupted passageof the light. means I am enabled to produce a sign which `is more brilliantly illuminated Vby a smaller amount of illuminating medium. v I

The particular .holder for. the jewelsxused in conjunctionwith my sign is more clearly illustrated in Figs.- 5, 7 and 8, 'in which the holder 8 comprises a ring 9 formed with a series of regularly spaced radiating prongs 10,l the inner edge of the rin being formed at approximately diametrical y opposing points with fingers 11, terminally secured to the ring at opposing points and practicallyequal in length to the Inner diametrical extent of the ring. The jewels or lenses 12 are secured in the holders by engaging the prongs Inanner,` as clearly shown in Fig.. 8. The signcharacter is, at appropriate points 1n lts ing in diameter to the inner diameter of the ring 9, and said holders are secured to vthe si n character by arranging the rings concentric `with the openings 13, bending the fingers 11 at right anglestojthe plane of the rlngs and causing said fingers to engage the wall of the openings 13. The free inner ends .of the fingers are then bent laterallyto bearagainst the inner surface of the sign character bernanner. By' this means the passage of the Ailluminating medium from the interior of the 'case is entirely uninterrupted with the effect -resultingfrom such light interference and to sign. character similar to the particular .char- Oneof'the important features of thepres- By this though if-preferred, they may be simply In am familiar, the lenses have been so secured 11 of the latter with the jewels inthe usual surface,formedwith openings 13, correspondyond the openings 13, and Secured to said surface by nails 14, or in any other preferred Y to'causea`more brllliantillummation of the In connection with 'the jewel securing means, Whereby to secure the greatest freedom for the passage of theilluminating me.- dlum, I contem late .the use 'ot a reflector constructed .to direct the illuminating medi-A vum to. the openings,y in the sign characters. Y `As more clearly shown in Fig. 3, this reflector `comprises an elongated bodyv 15, of approximately oval shape in transverse section, with the reiiecting surfaces 16 arranged ad-A jacent the openings 13.

orted centrally Within the casing, preferably The reector is supy eye-bolts 17, secured at theLend yof the t-op and bottom of the casing and eng-aging eyes a long1tudinal row and in alinement with the form differs from the preferredformin that single set of-lamps being arranged l s D 18 formed or projecting from the reflector.

vThe illuminating means, consisting of ase-- ries of incandescentilamps 19, are securedto the top and bottom-of the casing, arranged in major aXis of the reflector, so that tlie'lght from each lamp is directed onto @the reiiecte- Y ing surface of each side of the freiie'ctor and from said surface through the oplenings 13.,

. In Fig. 6 is illustrated a slig tly modified form of sign, in which the Jsign characters are identically constructed with those previously described, but arranged in `verticalj alinement instead of. horizontally, lThis each sign character is provided with an independent reflector 20, arranged transverse the casing, though similar in all other respects to the-reflector 1 5. In the modified fornnthe incandescent lampsQl are arran ed in. alinement With the major axis of eac 1 reflector, a

l Between each two reflectors and serving for. both;

`In addition-to the openings 13 andlv the over-lying jewels, Ijprefer to form each sign character with a series of minute ol enings 24,

preferably beyondthe jewels an `sospaced u as to outline the particular character, These openings form additional light ducts, and

materially assist in the illumination of the slgn.

lthe vouter surfaceof the lcharacter and dis osing ,the jewels wholly beyond said 'su ace, means carried by the holder for engaging the wall of the particular opening and the inner `surface of the character, and meanssecuing l that portion of the holder engaging the inner I* 2. ,The combination with a jewel for sign to the character, saidholder com rising a s`ingle dislg; of, metal having radia projec# tions from its peripheral edge and centrally cut `ont to leave a diametrically arranged member, said member'being divided centrally .andlongitudinally and one end of each secprongs for securing the holder in place.

in presence ofNtWo witnesses."

Witnesses:

'. CHARLES A. MERTENS, v

v ELIZABETH ScHMrrz.

'pensive character, that the arrangement of, the jewels andreflectors insures Athe maxiformed with open1ngs,

ried by the holders, said holders resting upony *GEoRone, nIENTrMP.

From the construction described., it is ob Vious that the sign produced is of simple 1n- .surface of the'character to sald inner surface. V

tion thus providedv severed from the disk,

ywhereby toprotide diametrically opposed In testimony whereof, I afiix, my signature 8b characters, of a holder for securing said jewel 7o 

